Sometimes, After Sunset

by Tanith Lee

Here are two mesmerizing novels by one of SF's fastest rising stars:

Sabella, or the Blood Stone.
Love was a luxury she could not afford. The huntress does not love her prey, after all, and Sabella Quey's need to hunt was overpowering.
It had been so ever since the day she had wandered into the ruins on Novo Mars and found the strange gem. The thirst for blood had grown in her just as desire grows in most young women. And back then, inexperienced, reckless, she had sated her lust with any of the boys who whistled after her -- boys who were unaware that death awaited them in her arms.
As she matured, Sabella became cautious; she did not kill the men who pursued her, but rather allowed them to use her body to satisfy their needs -- all the while satisfying her own. The gem, pale at first, would become deep red as her hunger abated, but the men didn't notice the change. They would faint, ecstatic, and afterward never remember the true nature of Sabella's passion.
Yet there were people who understood what Sabella was- people who feared and despised her. And of those, one in particular had found a way to vent her hatred....

Kill the Dead.
A hush came over the inn's common room when Parl Dro entered. A few in the crowd who recognized him spread the word: he was the Ghost-Killer.
Conversation resumed as Dro ordered a meal, and he listened quietly to their nervous sallies.
'How do you sleep nights?' someone asked, not really expecting an answer. 'He sleeps all right,' came the reply. 'There'll be plenty with cause to thank him.' 'And plenty who curse him,' another man said.
The room was growing quiet again; they wanted to know, yet dared not ask too directly.
'Well, you've had a wasted journey to this place, Parl Dro,' someone ventured at last. 'We haven't any deadalive here.'
He had been expecting such a comment, and readying himself to say the words none of them wanted to hear.
'Oh, but you're wrong,' he told them quietly. And almost against their will, they believed him.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Vampires, Horror, Science Fiction

311 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Tanith Lee was a British writer of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. She was the author of 77 novels, 14 collections, and almost 300 short stories. She also wrote four radio plays broadcast by the BBC and two scripts for the UK, science fiction, cult television series "Blake's 7."
Before becoming a full time writer, Lee worked as a file clerk, an assistant librarian, a shop assistant, and a waitress.

Her first short story, "Eustace," was published in 1968, and her first novel (for children) The Dragon Hoard was published in 1971.

Her career took off in 1975 with the acceptance by Daw Books USA of her adult fantasy epic The Birthgrave for publication as a mass-market paperback, and Lee has since maintained a prolific output in popular genre writing.

Lee twice won the World Fantasy Award: once in 1983 for best short fiction for “The Gorgon” and again in 1984 for best short fiction for “Elle Est Trois (La Mort).” She has been a Guest of Honour at numerous science fiction and fantasy conventions including the Boskone XVIII in Boston, USA in 1981, the 1984 World Fantasy Convention in Ottawa, Canada, and Orbital 2008 the British National Science Fiction convention (Eastercon) held in London, England in March 2008. In 2009 she was awarded the prestigious title of Grand Master of Horror.

Lee was the daughter of two ballroom dancers, Bernard and Hylda Lee. Despite a persistent rumour, she was not the daughter of the actor Bernard Lee who played "M" in the James Bond series of films of the 1960s.

Tanith Lee married author and artist John Kaiine in 1992.

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit it, I bought the book for the cover, however I ended up liking the book.

[Jamie Dacyczyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright. Actually, it's two smaller books in one volume. I didn't feel particularly wowed by either, although I picked it up because the 2nd book (Kill the Dead) was supposed to have a knock-your-socks-off twist near the end. Unfortunately, I sort of lost interest about halfway through, and only skimmed the rest of the book. Ghost stories with obvious, in-your-face ghosts don't really do anything for me.

This would probably be a better book for someone who likes the paranormal genre more than I do.

[rndgmoat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanith Lee was a prolific writer in all forms of "genre" fiction; for me, however, she's an apparent blind spot. This was my first Lee read, a great 4 dollar used bookstore find that combines two novellas in one volume. Both are excellent.

The first story, Sabella, is a great genre-blending story that feels like something that could only be written in the late 1970s but still retains a timeless aspect. It has new wave sci-fi influences, along with some literary atmosphere you'd expect from, say, Margaret Atwood, and is probably the best book about Martian vampires you will ever read. Sabella, our narrator, feeds on the blood of men. She's mostly learned not to take too much (and therefore kill her victim) but the erotic pull instilled in her victims means that strong willpower is required to avoid homicidal consequences. She's mostly learned to get along, living in a far-out rural homestead and hunting animal, rather than human, prey. This static existence is shattered, however, by the death of her aunt and an invitation to a funeral. She meets a man, a connection forms, and the whole bizarre and compulsively readable plot spools out from there. I'm not really a vampire reader, but this was a great story.

The second story (Kill the Dead) is, improbably, even better. It has a great concept. Set in an anachronistic vision of a somewhat recent past, the story focuses on Parl Dro, a man who uses his psychic gifts to do battle with the "deadalive." Ghosts are real in this world--sometimes conjured into being by desperate loved ones; other times stuck to a spot as a result of horrific violence or an unjust end. Dro sees it as his mission to exterminate these entities, which he stubbornly denies as having any residual humanity. Dro finds himself in trouble, however, when he wanders into a new town and, out of a sense of duty, sneaks into a suitably gothic mansion to exterminate the ghost who is alone with a grieving sister. The sister swears revenge, and our story goes on from there.

Overall, these are great stories, heavily influenced by 19th century gothic traditions, old school weird fiction, new wave sci-fi, Hawthorne, you name it. Really weird and wonderful.

[Shane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read "Kill the Dead" years ago and here are my notes: Boring,confusing ending,telling instead of showing, bad hero.

I tried to read "Sabella, or The Blood Stone" with my wife and after about 65 pages (midway) we were bored to tears. The vampire in a sci-fi setting was kind of jarring and it was just really "emo" and slow.

Tanith Lee is one of my favorite authors, but it's funny because her books/stories are usually either completely amazing or utterly terrible and painful to read. If you want to try her amazing stuff out check out Death's Master and other books in the Flat Earth series.

[Erinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't get into this book, and had a hard time even finishing it. I'm glad I did though, because the end surprised me.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as arresting as THE BIRTHGRAVE, but had its moments, especially the second story. **½ rounded up.

SABELLA - Sad Vampire on Mars! Very Gothic, but not very memorable. **½

KILL THE DEAD - Basically The Witcher?? Hated deadpan monster (well, ghost) hunter and clingy bard off on an adventure? Pretty good, though the choice of character names (Parl Dro, Myal Lemyal, Ciddey and Cilney, Tuotef) is pretty goofy. ***

[Kathei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains two seperate novels.
1) Sabella, of the Blood Stone
2) Kill the Dead

Another excellent book by Tanith Lee.

[Michael Dow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kill the Dead is a gem of a story. Classic Tanith Lee.

[Shobi · Rating 2 out of 5]

parl dro guitar don't remember

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want a vampire on Mars (wait, sorry, Novo Mars) or a world-weary necromancer with a feckless bard wandering in his wake, Tanith Lee has you covered here.

[Ана Хелс · Rating 5 out of 5]

Две книги, наглед нямащи общо една с друга – приказка за духове и убийци на призраци във фентъзийно безвремие и фантастична история за извънземни вампири, стоящи в основата на марсианско равновесие в далечно бъдеще, без общи елементи, герои или дори стил, освен обичайната класа на думите на Танит Ли. И все пак духът излязъл от бутилката, независимо дали дебнещ по прашния път край мътно блато, или в междугалактическа кръчма на тераформирана планета, те хваща и води в света на немъртвите и умрелите, нераждалите се и преродените, неумиращите и сънувалите живот с хилядолетия. Истории за смъртта и живота, в които добрите се превръщат в чудовища, а зверовете стават по-хуманни от който и да е сроден човекоподобен индивид.

Убий мъртвите носи духа на първата книга, до която въобще се докоснах до Танит и нейните светове, и единствената до която имат достъп читателите в България – а именно великолепната цветна вакханлия на невъзможности Волкхавар. Призрачни градове будещи се в монохромие при всеки блед залез, водни гробове, приютили загубени мечти, вина и тъмни спомени, изкусни музиканти, свирещи на неподлежащи на издаване на звуци инструменти, и много духове, търсещи живот и отмъщение, но не и пътя към светлината . И в средата на този объркан свят един пътуващ почти Гералд от Ривия, само че доста по-самотен и нежив от събрата си отмъстител, връщащ равновесието в света на завърналите се от смъртта , нуждаещи се от енергията и любовта на бившите си близки. Едно пътуване през много темпорални пластове в търсене на ултимативното свърталище на изплъзналите се от оная с косата, и финал връщащ към началото на нещата. Силно и задъхващо от смисъл, който се процежда между пръстите , оставящ мътна духовна следа.

Сабела ни отвежда на съвсем различно място, много по-възможно, и все пак напълно фантасмагорично, някъде далеч от Земята, от галактиката , от вселената, в един нов розов Марс, тераформиран и обсаден от човешката напаст и култура. В едно забравено поле едно почти американско, а всъщност новомарсианско момиче се събужда несъзнателно за отвъден живот, нуждаещ се кръв, с един блед кристал, хранещ се със заситеността на своя приносител. Единственият междугалактически вампир започва своя самотен път изпълнен с подозрения, загуба на любов и доверие, както и естествено десетки трупове на изпадащи в екстаз от кръвозагуба, докато намира своя палач и единствен събрат, нетърпим към различното, но разбиращ нуждата на природата. Почти любовна история без финал , освен в тъмното и невидимото някъде отвъд.

Танит разказва несъществуващи животи, отвъдни вселени, забравени сънища, мрачни мечти , деца - идеи, изпълзели от зловещите килери на творческите ни съзнания. Всяка книга е преживяване, уж с познати герои, но с необичаен смисъл до последната дума. Емоционално откровение на таланта, който разказва за смъртта така отблизо, както никой не успява да разкаже за живота. Видения в обвивки от думи. Не бих се лишила от това докато съм в състояние да възприемам четенето като така нужно , както сега.

[S.j. Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, After Sunset by Tanith Lee is actually two stories: Sabella, or The Blood Stone and Kill the Dead, both 1980. Sabella is the tale of young woman living on Novo Mars. The plot rolls science fiction, paranormal, aliens and romance into one fast moving tale. Sabella's secret is catching up to her, in the form of Jace Vincent who is harboring a secret of his own. Kill The Dead is the story of Parl Dro, a slayer of what's known as the deadalive, ghosts who remain among the living, manipulating and harming them. The story is weirdly confusing and has such an unexpected ending that you wonder what was it you just read!
What I like very much about Tanith Lee's writing style is that she has an unique way with words, conjuring both visual and emotional responses. She uses unexpected words to convey the action, describe landscapes and she creates interesting characters. I give Sabella 4/5 stars and Kill the Dead 2.5/5 stars. I wished Sabella was a longer story, while Kill the Dead seemed to move slowly and by the end I was ready to be finished!